Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Dallas Homes Take The Effort To Keep Up With Garage Door Maintenance

Garage doors are the largest moving part of the home, and potentially operate multiple times each day. With preventive maintenance you can reduce the chances of you shelling out cash for costly repairs. Although parts are built to last, even under light use, periodic care and maintenance is required.

Consider that the garage will be the biggest moving component in your house. If you regularly maintain your garage door, keep up the good work and you will be rewarded with a long-lasting, reliable door.

If you aren’t performing garage door maintenance tasks or having your overhead door serviced, here are some tips to get you started

Proper Maintenance of garage doors is often overlooked by homeowners

Add a garage door tune-up to your “to-do” list

One of the most overlooked items is the garage door.  In a recent study, 50% of respondents stated they have never maintained their door. Like every other mechanical device — your garage door needs to be maintained.

Just as it’s common to have your furnace checked annually, it’s wise to have your door checked by a qualified technician. The experts remind homeowners to use caution when working on or near garage doors.

Ensure that children understand that garage doors and openers are not toys. Homeowners can avoid expensive repairs by performing an annual inspection and tune up of their garage door by following these simple steps:

1. Clean the outside of the door with a detergent, sponge and water. Rinse with a garden hose.

2. Check for broken rollers, frayed cables and rusted bottom brackets and replace as necessary.

3. Use a socket wrench to tighten any loose nuts or bolts on the tracks or hinges. Any bolts or nuts that are red or have warning tags should not be tightened or loosened. Only a garage door technician should adjust them.

4. Check the door’s balance, with door in closed position, disengage the opener by pulling the release cord and raise the door to waist level and then let it go carefully. If it lowers or rises, it is out of balance and needs maintenance.

5. Check your electric opener safety reverse.  With the door open, lay a piece of 2 x 4 on the floor in the center of the opening. Push the wall button to close the door. When the door strikes the wood, it should reverse. If the door does not reverse, it should be serviced.

6.  With the door in closed position, clean photo eyes with a soft, dry cloth. Gently adjust photo eyes if they are out of alignment. With the door open, push wall button to close door. Wave a long object, such as a broomstick, in front of one of the photo eyes so it “breaks the beam.” If the door does not reverse, it should be serviced immediately.

7. Lubricate all moving parts with a silicone lubricant spray, never use grease or WD40.

With proper maintenance, your garage door will serve you faithfully for years to come.